CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT is a Claude Code environment variable: Exploration agents in Plan v2 (1–10). Present since v2.1.69 or earlier and still present in v2.1.294. It is not in the official reference.

Status	Present in v2.1.294
Added	Present since v2.1.69 or earlier
Category	Agents and subagents
Official docs	Not listed

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT=<value>
claude

To apply it to every session, add it to the env object of a settings file:

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT": "<value>"
  }
}

Release notes that mention it

83 Undocumented Claude Code Environment Variables (v2.1.19)

Related variables

CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_AGENT_COUNT: Number of agents in Plan v2 mode (1–10).
CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_EXPLORE_PLAN_AGENTS
CLAUDE_AGENT: Short-form identifier for the current agent, used in inter-agent messaging and log attribution.
CLAUDE_AGENT_SDK_CLIENT_APP: Client application name.
CLAUDE_AGENT_SDK_DISABLE_BUILTIN_AGENTS: Disable built-in agent types.
CLAUDE_AGENT_SDK_MCP_NO_PREFIX: Don't prefix MCP tool names with server name.
CLAUDE_AGENT_SDK_VERSION: Agent SDK version sent in User-Agent header.
CLAUDE_CODE_AGENT: Full agent descriptor passed into a spawned agent process — likely the agent's frontmatter (tools, allowed/disallowed lists, system prompt path) so the child can reconstruct its runtime without re-reading disk.

Frequently asked questions

What does CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT do?

Exploration agents in Plan v2 (1–10)

Which Claude Code version has CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT?

Present since v2.1.69 or earlier and still present in v2.1.294.

How do I set CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT?

Export it before starting Claude Code (export CLAUDE_CODE_PLAN_V2_EXPLORE_AGENT_COUNT=value), or add it to the "env" object in ~/.claude/settings.json to apply it to every session.

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.